Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for accessing functions of a multi-function device.
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1. A multi-function apparatus configured to provide functionalities to a client terminal connected via a network, said multi-function apparatus comprising: a maintenance part configured to maintain module information indicating, for each of the functionalities, one or more modules corresponding to the functionality; and a module access part configured to determine, based on the module information maintained by the maintenance part, a first module associated with a first functionality, in response to a request, received from the client terminal via the network, for the first functionality, and cause said first module to be retrieved via the network from another device, and to be executed in response to the request from the client terminal via the network, wherein the module access part causes the first module, retrieved via the network from said another device, to be remotely executed by the multi-function apparatus in order to provide the first functionality.
A multi-function device provides functionalities to a client terminal via a network. The device maintains module information, associating each functionality with one or more code modules. When the client requests a functionality, the device uses the module information to identify the corresponding module. It then retrieves this module from another device on the network and executes it to fulfill the client's request. The retrieval and execution of the module from the other device are done remotely by the multi-function device to provide the requested functionality.
2. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-function apparatus causes a result of the execution of the first module to be provided via the network to the client terminal, in response to the request from the client terminal.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, after the multi-function device executes the module retrieved from another device in response to a client's request, the multi-function device sends the result of that execution back to the client terminal over the network.
3. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the module access part determines said first module associated with the first functionality by (i) analyzing the module information to determine a plurality of modules corresponding to the first functionality, and (ii) determining which of said plurality of modules corresponding to the first functionality is not natively available on the multi-function apparatus.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the device determines which module to use for a requested functionality by first analyzing the module information to find all modules that can provide that functionality. Then, it determines which of those modules is *not* already natively available on the multi-function device itself, selecting that one for retrieval and execution from another device.
4. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the module access part causes the retrieved first module to be transmitted to the client terminal via the network, and the client terminal executes the first module at the client terminal in order to obtain the first functionality.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, instead of executing the retrieved module itself, the multi-function device transmits the retrieved module to the client terminal over the network. The client terminal then executes the module directly on its own system to obtain the requested functionality.
5. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the module access part determines said first module associated with the first functionality by (i) analyzing the module information to determine a plurality of modules corresponding to the first functionality, and (ii) determining which of said plurality of modules corresponding to the first functionality is not natively available on the client terminal.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the device determines which module to use for a requested functionality by first analyzing the module information to find all modules that can provide that functionality. Then, it determines which of those modules is *not* already natively available on the client terminal, selecting that one for retrieval and delivery (for execution) to the client.
6. The multi-function apparatus of claim wherein the module access part provides a resource locator of the retrieved first module to enable the client terminal to access the first module via the network, and the client terminal utilizes the resource locator to the first module in order to obtain the first functionality.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the multi-function device doesn't directly send the module, but instead provides the client terminal with a network address (a resource locator or URL) where the retrieved module can be accessed. The client terminal then uses this address to access and execute the module to obtain the desired functionality.
7. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the maintenance part maintains device information indicating, for each of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the network, modules available from the multi-function device, and the module access part determines, based on the device information maintained by the maintenance part, one of the plurality of multi-function devices from which the first module is to be obtained.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the multi-function device maintains device information about other multi-function devices on the network, including which modules are available from each device. When a request comes in, the device uses this device information to determine which other multi-function device has the required module and retrieves it from that specific device.
8. The multi-function apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the module access part retrieves said first module via the network from said one of the plurality of multi-function devices, and causes said first module to be executed in order to provide the first functionality.
In the multi-function device setup where the device knows about modules available from other devices, as described previously, the multi-function apparatus retrieves the necessary module via the network from the determined multi-function device, and then executes the module itself to provide the required functionality to the client.
9. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a storage part configured to store code modules; and a control part configured to execute said first module and one or more of the code modules to obtain the first functionality.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the multi-function device also includes a storage part for storing code modules and a control part for executing code. The control part executes the retrieved module from the network and also uses one or more locally stored code modules together to provide the complete functionality requested by the client.
10. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a result of the execution of the first module by the network-connected device is provided, via the network, to any one of the client terminal, the multi-function apparatus, and a storage device connected to the network.
In the multi-function device setup where a module is retrieved from a network-connected device and executed, the result of that execution can be sent over the network to the client terminal, the multi-function device that initiated the request, or a storage device also connected to the network. The result is distributed to one or more of these locations.
11. The multi-function apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the module access part interfaces the client terminal and the network-connected device, such that the client terminal remotely accesses the first module at the network-connected device via the network, to obtain the first functionality.
In the multi-function device setup described previously, the multi-function device acts as an intermediary, providing an interface between the client terminal and the network-connected device that holds the needed module. This allows the client terminal to remotely access and execute the module on the network-connected device, obtaining the requested functionality without directly interacting with the remote device's internal workings beyond the interface provided.
12. A method for providing, by a multi-function apparatus, functionalities to a client terminal via a network, said method comprising: maintaining module information indicating, for each of the functionalities, one or more modules corresponding to the functionality; determining, based on the module information, a first module associated with a first functionality, in response to a request, received from the client terminal via the network, for the first functionality; and retrieving said first module, via the network from another device, and causing the first module to be executed in response to the request from the client terminal via the network, wherein the first module, retrieved via the network from said another device, is remotely executed by the multi-function apparatus in order to provide the first functionality.
A method for a multi-function device to provide functionalities to a client terminal involves: maintaining module information linking functionalities to specific modules; when a client requests a function, using the module information to find the appropriate module; retrieving that module from another device on the network; and then running the retrieved module to perform the function requested by the client. The module is remotely executed by the multi-function device in order to provide the requested functionality.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining device information indicating modules installed on the multi-function apparatus; analyzing the module information to determine a plurality of modules corresponding to the first function; and determining the first module by determining which of said plurality of modules corresponding to the first function are not installed on the multi-function apparatus, based on the device information.
The method for providing functionalities, as described previously, also includes maintaining device information about modules already installed on the multi-function device. When a function is requested, the method analyzes module information to find candidate modules, then checks the device information to determine if any of those candidate modules are *not* installed locally. The module that isn't locally installed is the one retrieved from another device.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining device information indicating, for each of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the network, modules available from the multi-function device, and determining, based on the device information, which one of the plurality of multi-function devices includes the first module.
The method for providing functionalities, as described previously, also involves maintaining device information indicating which modules are available on other multi-function devices connected to the network. When a module is needed, this device information is used to determine *which* of the other devices contains the required module.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing a result of the execution of the first module by the multi-function apparatus to the client terminal via the network, in response to the request for the first functionality received from the client terminal.
In the method for providing functionalities described previously, after the multi-function device executes the module (retrieved from another device), it sends the result of that execution back to the client terminal via the network, fulfilling the client's original request.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing, to the client terminal via the network, access to, and a resource locator of, the retrieved first module, wherein the client terminal utilizes the resource locator to the first module in order to obtain the first functionality.
In the method for providing functionalities described previously, the client terminal receives access to the retrieved module, and also receives the network address (resource locator) of the module. The client terminal then uses this address to directly access and interact with the module to obtain the requested functionality.
17. A multi-function apparatus configured to provide functionalities to a client terminal connected via a network, said multi-function apparatus comprising: a maintenance part configured to maintain module information indicating, for each of the functionalities, one or more modules corresponding to the functionality; and a module access part configured to determine, based on the module information maintained by the maintenance part, a first module associated with a first functionality, in response to a request, received from the client terminal via the network, for the first functionality, and instruct a network-connected device having the first module to remotely execute the first module, in order to provide the first functionality, wherein the module access part determines which one of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the network includes the first module, and the module access part instructs said one of the plurality of multi-function devices to remotely execute the first module, in order to provide the first functionality.
A multi-function device provides functionalities to a client terminal. It stores module information associating functionalities with code modules. When a client requests a function, it identifies the appropriate module and instructs a network-connected device that *has* the module to remotely execute it. The multi-function device determines which of several network-connected devices contains the required module and instructs *that* specific device to execute the module in order to provide the requested functionality to the requesting client.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 26, 2011
August 20, 2013
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